Mullaperiyar dam row: LDF flays Centre

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI(M)-led LDF opposition in
Kerala today came down heavily on the Centre for its
"reluctance" to intervene in the Mullaperiyar dam row between
the state and Tamil Nadu despite assurances given by Prime
Minister to an all-party delegation from the state.

"It is almost a month since Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
promised an all-party delegation from Kerala that the Centre
would intervene to resolve the tangle. But nothing has
happened so far," LDF convener Vaikom Viswan told reporters
after a meeting of the coalition`s state committee here.
The Centre was not only showing "lack of interest" in
resolving the issue but also it appeared that it was taking
positions "favourable" to Tamil Nadu ignoring the just demands
of Kerala, he alleged.

Attacking the Oommen Chandy Government, he said it appeared
that the national and state leadership of the Congress were
moving with a "secret agenda" that would weaken the state`s
case.

This was against the spirit of the resolution adopted by
the state assembly and the consensus at an all-party meet,both
of which reflected the public opinion in the state, he said.
The CPI(M) leader said the LDF was of the firm view that
construction of a new dam was the only solution to the
dispute. At the same time, this should be achieved without in
any way rupturing the good relationship with Tamil Nadu.

Viswan said this position was not at variance with the
stand of the CPI(M)`s national leadership.

The LDF would organise campaigns throughout the state to
tell people of the recent developments regarding the
Mullaperiyar dispute.